Brewers reinforce bullpen, add offseason minor league signee to active roster

While the Milwaukee Brewers bullpen overall has once again been one of the better such units in the league in 2024, there have still been some members who haven't performed the way fans might like. Now a new pitcher gets to see if he can make a strong impression as a reliever for the team.

Enoli Paredes is reportedly being called up by the Brewers as they begin a road series against the Boston Red Sox this weekend. The move was first reported on Twitter (formerly X) by Houston based sports anchor and reporter Ari Alexander and later confirmed by the team.

The Brewers signed Paredes to a minor league contract last November and gave him an invitation to spring training. He had elected to become a free agent when the Houston Astros had outrighted him to the minors less than a month before the signing.

The Brewers have reinforced their bullpen by selecting the contract of reliever Enoli Paredes.

The 28-year-old Paredes had spent his entire professional career with the Astros prior to signing with the Brewers. He was a part of Houston's 2014 winter international signing class and began his minor league career in the Astros' rookie league team in the summer of 2016.

Paredes would work his way up the team's minor league system before making his Major League debut in the Covid-shortened 2020 season. He would have a solid campaign, appearing in 22 games and compiling a 3.05 ERA over 20.2 innings.

Paredes pitched in just 15 games over the following two seasons after that, struggling in limited time in 2021 before looking good again in 2022, though he spent all of the 2023 season in Triple-A. For his entire MLB career, he has a 3-3 record and 3.90 ERA over 32.1 innings, all in relief, as well as a 1.825 WHIP.

As a non-roster invitee, the Brewers took a decent look at Paredes in Cactus League play and he did well, giving up just two runs on five hits and three walks over 8.2 innings while striking out 11. He has since been one of the team's top relievers at Triple-A Nashville with a sparkling 1.31 ERA, .153 batting average against, and five saves in 20.2 innings of work.

The Brewers had an open 40-man roster spot so no one had to be designated for assignment or transferred to the 60-day IL to support the move. However, to accommodate adding him to the active roster, pitcher Bradley Blalock was optioned back to Double-A Biloxi.

Paredes has no minor league options remaining, so he will have to pitch well to remain with the Brewers. With Tyago Vieria having recently been designated for assignment and Mitch White already on shaky ground, the opportunity is there for Paredes to stick around if he can just seize it.